Release of 05.11.2013
- Efforts to reduce emissions achieved a higher performance band (from E to C) from CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project)
- Ongoing reduction of ecological footprint through targeted measures
- Extension of the collection of data to group-wide
Vienna, 5 November, 2013: The Telekom Austria Group achieved a considerably better rating by the non-profit organization Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) for the second time in a row. The disclosure of emission figures as well as the emission reduction measures adopted by the company are well above the Austrian average.
“Responsible and sustainable management combined with maximum transparency on ecological matters are the foundation of modern corporate management. Therefore, we are thrilled about our improved performance in the CDP ranking, which demonstrates the ultimate success of our sustainability strategy“, said Petra Gallaun, Head of CSR at the Telekom Austria Group and A1. Information and communication technologies provide the basis for the modern knowledge-based society. They are, however, a very energy-intensive industry as they operate round the clock. Thus, savings in electricity consumption play a crucial role for the reduction of CO2 emissions. By optimizing its technical infrastructure, the Telekom Austria Group, as Austria’s largest communications provider, is making a significant contribution in terms of energy savings within the ICT industry.
The Telekom Austria Group has participated in the Carbon Disclosure Project since 2010. This year, the company was able to achieve a considerably better rating with regard to the disclosure of emission figures, scoring a total of 74 points (out of a possible 100 points), a plus of 20 points compared to the 54 points achieved in the previous year. Considerable progress was also made in terms of emissions reduction, with the company achieving a higher performance band (from E to C). This great achievement is mainly attributable to the company’s extensive set of measures in the area of climate and environmental protection such as, for instance, the promotion of green mobility through the use of e-cars, energy-efficient climate control solutions for equipment rooms or the implementation of video conferencing systems, which has led to a reduction of one-day business trips by one-quarter. For the first time, environmental data was collected group-wide, across all eight corporate subsidiaries. Moreover, selected key figures for Austria and, more specifically those regarding the company’s CO2 emissions, were reviewed by an independent auditor.
CDP was founded in London (UK) and manages on behalf of institutional investors the largest database worldwide including the company disclosure about emissions, potential climate risks and chances as well as business reduction targets and strategies.
A total of 350 companies across Austria, Germany and Switzerland are questioned every year.
“Telekom Austria Group improved significantly both concerning disclosure scoring as well as performance scoring of CDP. This shows the connection between the good quality of data and the effective strategies to reduce emissions. The telecoms sector is highly important for a transformation to a low-emission economy both in terms of its products as well as their own energy efficiency and we hope to see more of this innovative progress in the future, “ says Steven Tebbe, Managing Director CDP Europe.
Comprehensive Reorientation with New Sustainability StrategyThe newly published Sustainability Report of the Telekom Austria Group in graphic novel style presents the new sustainability strategy of the company on four main fields of actions, which are broken down into several CSR operating activities. Within the framework of a materiality analysis, four fields of action were identified and are considered particularly relevant for the sustainable development of the Group. These were oriented towards a clear focus on the company’s core business.
The first field of action “Providing Responsible Products“ is aimed at providing safe and high-performance communication networks, ensuring information and data security. The steady reduction of the Telekom Austria Group’s ecological footprint is illustrated in the second field of action “Living Green“. The diverse skills of the Group’s employees across all eight corporate subsidiaries are equally leveraged and fostered as demonstrated in the third field of action “Empowering People“. The fourth field of action “Creating Equal Opportunities“ presents the numerous initiatives of the company aimed at promoting equal opportunities in the digital world. Furthermore, these fields of action encompass certain key indicators and are combined with an extensive program of measures, such as, for instance, increasing the percentage of women in management positions to 35% and achieving a 20% increase in energy efficiency for the Telekom Austria Group as a whole by 2015.
The Sustainability Report of the Telekom Austria Group shows the new sustainability strategy of the company:
http://sr2012-13.telekomaustria.com/en/the_sustainables.html Pictures of the CDP annual conference in which Petra Gallaun, Head of CSR at the Telekom Austria Group and A1 takes part as a panelist will shortly be available
here.